Squiggle Squad is founded on the belief that design thinking should be accessible to everyone. Through a playful, character-led visual and product system, the project introduces primary-school-aged children to creative thinking through hands-on exploration and experimentation. By making the process engaging and approachable, Squiggle Squad encourages children to become familiar with creative problem-solving from an early age. Creative thinkers start here.
Meet Squiggle Squad, a colourful crew of characters who guide children through the journey of creative discovery. Each character represents a different stage of the double diamond design creative process, brought to life through thoughtfully designed stationery, hands-on activities and playful visual storytelling. From the first scribble to the final creation, every resource encourages children to explore ideas, experiment with possibilities and discover their own creative potential.
Meet the Squad
Meet Scribble Scout, Tinker Tilly, Mixie May and Framey Fran. The four characters that bring Squiggle Squad to life. Each character represents one of the four stages of the Double Diamond design thinking framework: Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver. Through their distinct personalities, playful forms and colour-coded identities, the squad transforms this structured creative process into an engaging, approachable experience that encourages children to explore ideas, experiment with possibilities and bring their creations to life.
Scribble Scout introduces children to the first Discover stage of the Double Diamond through an A5 sketchbook and pen, creating a dedicated space to observe, collect ideas and explore their surroundings. The sketchbook features a printed cover page protected by a clear plastic cover, helping preserve the artwork while allowing the character-led identity to remain visible. A black card backing provides additional structure, while the spiral binding allows the book to open flat for comfortable drawing and writing. Inside, a combination of guided activities and blank pages encourages children to move between prompts and independent exploration. As the starting point of the squad, Scribble Scout makes the first stage of creative thinking approachable by encouraging curiosity, observation and the freedom to get ideas down on paper.
Tinker Tilly represents the second Define stage through a set of six jumbo markers in pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Selected for their bright colours and larger format, the markers support expressive mark-making while being designed with younger users in mind. The markers are housed in a compact cardboard box with a die-cut window, allowing the colours to become part of the packaging’s visual appeal while keeping the set organised. The cream packaging, playful doodles and Tinker Tilly’s yellow character identity connect the product to the wider Squiggle Squad system. Within the creative process, the markers give children a way to sort, highlight and communicate the ideas that matter, helping them make sense of what they have discovered and begin defining their direction.
Mixie May brings the third Develop stage to life through a glue stick and character-shaped scissors, giving children tools to combine materials, test possibilities and turn abstract ideas into tangible outcomes. The scissors retain their original form, allowing the character-led design intervention to focus on the packaging and the glue-stick label rather than altering the tools themselves. The glue stick features a custom wraparound label that carries Mixie May’s pink-and-purple identity onto the product, creating a consistent visual connection between the individual item and its outer packaging. A die-cut window reveals the contents of the cream cardboard box, making the tools visible while reinforcing the playful visual language of the range. Together, these choices position Mixie May as the experimental member of the squad, encouraging children to cut, combine, rearrange and explore different ways to develop their ideas.
Framey Fran represents the final Deliver stage through a set of three A5 sheets featuring reusable frames in different shapes. Designed to help children present and share their work, the frames offer a simple way to give drawings, concepts and final ideas a defined visual boundary. The sheets are packaged in a clear plastic sleeve, keeping the contents together while allowing the frames to remain visible. A printed cardstock topper provides space for the Squiggle Squad identity, Framey Fran’s green character design and the stage label, while its shaped lower edge carries the playful visual language of the wider packaging system. By combining a practical storage solution with a recognisable character-led design, Framey Fran helps children move from making ideas to presenting them with intention, giving the creative process a clear and satisfying finish.
Creative thinkers start here.
Squiggle Squad transforms the creative process into a playful, hands-on experience that encourages children to explore ideas, experiment with possibilities and bring their imagination to life.
Explore the full project on Behance to discover the design development, character identities, product packaging and thinking behind the Squiggle Squad system.
Lizel is a visual communication designer who believes thoughtful design can bring people together. With a passion for branding, visual storytelling and community-focused design, she creates engaging experiences that connect people with ideas, places and each other. Her work is driven by curiosity, collaboration and a desire to make a meaningful impact.
